Abstract : For over 40 years, the U.S. and its allies have relied on our nuclear strength as the main deterrent against aggression. Two things cause us to focus on the need to pay more attention to our conventional deterrent capability. One is the INF treaty and the likelihood of more such treaties. The other is the realization that while nuclear power may have successfully deterred nuclear aggression, it has done little to curb conventional aggression. With the increased visibility of conventional power and the resource limitations being placed on the military, the Army is concentrating more and more on its Reserve Components. This paper contends that it is appropriate to rely more on conventional forces and appropriate to rely more on the RC. But it also contends that it is inappropriate to expect the RC to fulfill its now increasing conventional deterrent role without sufficient support and resources.